Exercising at home comes with endless benefits. Besides the fact that it’s more affordable than paying a monthly gym membership or joining a sports complex or team, you can pretty much exercise any time you want- even if it’s in the middle of the night. Home workouts are also very convenient for those who feel insecure about exercising in public and are also ideal for anyone who runs on a tight schedule. The great thing about exercising at home is that it has become easier than ever; with the wide array of equipment available for instant purchase, endless online resources, on-demand videos, accessible workout plans, and live online videos with instructors that work one-on-one and in group settings, you can get your daily dose of exercise from the comfort of your own home. Perhaps, the main disadvantage of working out from home is that you may often feel discouraged and lose your sense of commitment when it comes to exercise. Not knowing whether your workouts are as effective as they should be is also another drawback. This is why we are here to give you some tips that will help make your home workouts more effective and beneficial.
Range of Motion
When you are working out at home, you may be limited to a certain piece of equipment. If this is not the case, you may feel doubtful about adding more weights to your exercise regimen without consulting a professional first. Either way, searching for a way in which you can make your workout more effective or challenging without resorting to additional weights can be a great idea. To make your exercise session feel harder, all you need to do is increase your range of motion. Your muscles will do more work when you push them through a larger or increased range of motion, thus allowing you to make the most out of your workout. For instance, you can spice up your split squat or stationary lunge by slightly elevating or lifting your front foot. This way, you will be moving your leg in an up and down motion at a longer distance; this will make you feel the heat in a fewer number of reps without adding more weights to your workout. You can also do the same thing with your sumo squats and push-ups. Resting your leg on a higher surface, such as a coffee table or stool, as you get your push-ups done, can help make your exercise session more challenging, as well as add to your range of motion.
Slower Reps
While this may sound counterintuitive, doing your reps more slowly can actually make the workout more strenuous. Let’s say you are doing squats and spend around 4 or 5 seconds lowering your body, bringing your body to a pause, and then rising back up in 4 or 5 seconds. This will make your squats several times harder than the average bodyweight squats. This is because you are putting each muscle under strain for a longer period of time. If you want, you can also incorporate weights into your slowed reps, however, make sure that they are not as heavy as the ones that you usually use. This may be the best anti-cheating technique for home workouts; there is no way that you can manage to screw your reps. Slowing down the exercise process will ensure that you hit each movement and every muscle correctly.
Unfamiliar Movements
You may feel hesitant about trying out new movements at home. We all need guidance, instruction, or at least someone to tell us whether we are on the right track whenever we are trying a new exercise move. However, intensifying your workout by adding in a few unfamiliar movements can give your brain and body a great challenge. Moving your body around in different ways until you reach the correct position can help activate different muscles- though, make sure not to hurt yourself in the process. Trying out unfamiliar movements can mean adding in a few new exercises. It can also mean trying out a whole new type of physical activity; if you are into strength training, you can try yoga or Pilates, for example.
More and more people are starting to exercise at home. Ever since the Coronavirus outbreak, many people started to set up their own home gyms. Others decided to do simple, equipment-free workouts at home. However, those who are used to working out at the gym can find it challenging to find the right balance while working out at home. From missing exercise equipment to inaccessible real-time instruction, home workouts can feel rather ineffective. This is why we collected some tips that will help you make the most of your exercise.